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When the young midfielder stepped onto the pitch for his local team debut against Phoenix Sports before a mere 55 spectators in 2019, his coach back then assured, “we haven’t seen the best from this youngster.”

This statement proved to be something of an understatement.

Today 22 years old and an established top-flight player with the Cherries, the midfielder has earned his maiden call-up to the senior Three Lions squad.

His ascent from non-league prodigy to possible England player is a proper throwback, a story rarely told in the modern game.

Next stop? The World Cup?

“Back then, there was zero possibility of making it as a pro footballer, let alone featuring in the top division and playing for the national team too,” Scott said in a recent interview.

“It’s been a incredible half-dozen years of my life, and things have transformed completely for me and my family.”

But in what way did Scott, known affectionately as the ‘Guernsey Grealish’, find himself at this level?

Learning in non-league

Scott’s path in football has not been a typical one.

He was part of over four years in Southampton’s academy setup starting at eight, skipping school each Friday to fly from his home on the Channel Island to the mainland so he could train and feature for the Saints’ youth teams.

Prior to his 13th birthday, though, they released him. The Cherries gave Scott an opportunity and he remained with them for a while, but, by the player’s own admission, his mind wasn’t fully committed.

Instead, he opted to remain on Guernsey and play for his hometown club.

“I wasn’t playing very well and flying over weekly was starting to feel overwhelming,” he recalled.

“All I desired to relax at my home with my friends at weekends because I had missed nearly several years of that experience. To have that slice of youth back was a thing I really needed.

“Building a bit of confidence by coming back and taking part in island football was massive for me. That proved to be probably the most crucial things that led me to this point.”

When he was just 16, Scott made history as the most youthful appearance-maker in Guernsey’s history when he was introduced as a 57th-minute substitute in their league match at the opposition.

“I’ve been having sleepless nights because I was figuring out how I could include him in the side because his talent is obvious,” Guernsey boss Tony Vance stated back then.

“People have witnessed that – his retention of the ball is outstanding, the way he carries the ball, he’s pure quality.”

Returning to the professional game

Championship side the Robins – chaired by islander their owner – had been monitoring Scott’s early progress after an promising start in adult football and gave him a trial in December 2019.

“The whole experience was hectic,” said Scott. “Day one I trained with the youth team, the second day I was with the first team, which was a total shock.

“On the Wednesday I played for his local side in the capital, travelled back and by Friday, I played for Bristol City Under-18s and scored a three goals. It was almost a certainty for me to sign a contract.”

Within 18 months, even well before his 18th birthday, he was earning his senior debut against Luton.

Scott went on to make eighty-three league outings for the Robins while still a teenager, often being deployed as a wing-back – and sometimes further forward as a attacking midfielder – demonstrating his versatility and flexibility. Despite his youth and not in his natural role he was their best player.

With his ability to carry the ball forward, and with his socks down to his ankles, he earned the nickname ‘Guernsey’s Grealish’, a reference to City and England attacking midfielder Grealish.

At the end of the 2022-23 season he won the second tier’s young player of the season award, was selected in the league’s best XI and was voted Bristol City’s top player and top youngster.

“No doubt, I believe he will represent his country and I think he’ll go on to the pinnacle of the game,” Nigel Pearson, Scott’s manager at the club, stated previously.

Within 90 days after, he joined Bournemouth for a reported fee of 25 million pounds.

Getting his major transfer

The midfielder endured a challenging first season with the Cherries, waiting until the autumn to earn his Premier League debut after a knee injury in pre-season, and then finding himself inconsistent of the team.

His second campaign was just as affected, this time by a surgery which ruled him out for almost four months.

“There was a decent run at the end of last season, which was nice to have, then I broke my jaw,” said he.

“It was yet another setback and the year was shaping up as quite a terrible year for the first five months.”

But he was then selected by the national team for the Under-21 European Championships – and succeeded in regain fitness in time.

He started five of the England U21s’ six games as they claimed victory in the competition in the host nation, forming a strong understanding in the middle with Elliot Anderson, who in turn has excelled for the senior side with Thomas Tuchel.

And he has begun this season equally as impressively for Bournemouth, featuring in every game to guide them to the top five in the standings.

“Representing the England senior team would be one of the proudest moments of my career,” the player stated recently.

“The responsibility is mine, I’ve got to continue developing as a player, keep enjoying the game, getting better every day, and hopefully I catch the eye of the national coach and earn an opportunity.”